Improvement in cartridgs-cases



T. J. POWERS Cartridge.

Paten ted May 17, 1870 UITE S 5111 o T-HYT 3. Own R s,

on NEW Y0RK,'N.' Y'..-

fmpnovnmsu'r meanness-cases.

' Specificatioalforming part of Letters Patent.No. 103,079, dated May 17, 1870;

To all rhoiu it may concern Be it known that I, TIMOTHY J. Pownns,

of the city of New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridges for Breech-Loading Fire-Arms, and in tools for I making-the same; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accom pan yin gdrawin gs, forming a part of this specification, viz:

Figure l is a central sectional view of a mandrel having rolled on it a paper tube, designed to constitute thebody of thecartridge-case. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same tube. Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the same tube after one end has-been partially closed by crimping and gathering in a portion over theend of a mandrel, the-said end being designed to form the butt of the cartridgecasc. Fig. 4 is an end view of such partiallyclosed end. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, there being placed within the tube and down in the partially-closed end a tightly-rolled coil of paper, designed to be pressed firmly into the butt, to c'ontribnte to forming and strengthening the butt of the case. Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig.5. Fig. Tie a central sectional view ot" the same tube after the butt has been formed by pressure within a suitable die, showing'snch'die, and the punches used to form thebutt, and make the necessary recess andaperture for the center priming, the

fiat punch in the base being the only part not in section. Fig. 8 is the base-end surface view of' Fig. 7, .Fig. 9 is a central sectional view of the case removed "from the die shown in Fig 7. Fig. 10 is an. end surface view of thesama. Fig. 11 is a similar viewvof the same, having the anvil on which the percussiou-cap is to be exploded inserted in its place iutho butt of the case. Fig 12 is an end view oflthe same, Figs. 13 and-14 are, the one a 21 are two views, one sectional and the other an end view of the percussion-cap used.

The first part of my invention relates to tne formation of the entire body and butt of a' .eartridge-case-designed to be used in breechloading fire-arms, and to be withdrawn from' the breech after firing-of paper, in contradistinction to forming the same .wholly or partly of metal. I The second part of my invention relates to the peculiar dies and punches hereinafter described for making said plaper cartridge-case. V

To enable others skill in the art to make and use my invention, I willdescribe its mode of construction and operation;

The same letters indicate similar parts in the several figures. v

.A is a paper tubemade by rolling. successive layers of thin, strong paper, having one side covered with glue, orosome adhesive substance, around a mandrel, B, the tube having an external diameter to fit the base of the gun for which the cartridge is intended, and being of suitable length to hold the charge of powder and ball, and firm'the 'butt, as hereafter described. The tube, thus formed, is then placed on mandrel C, and the end A is turned and crimped sharply over the end of the mandrel, as shown. This operation maywbc performed by pushing the tube, withthe mandrel, into a die having aconical bottom, and aftec, I ward .into one having a square bottom," or it may be .done in alathe. A coil :of paper,

Fig. 15, is then made, it being .rolled. lightly about a small rod, so as to leave ah'ole through the center, andthc layers. of paperbeing stuck together with some suitable adhe- I sive substance.

For an ordinary cartridge of, say, .58 caliber, this coil may be about half or five-eighths of an inch in length. It is placed in the tube A,down against the partially-closedcud a,and the whole placed in thedic D, Fig. 7, into X which is fitted the movable bottom E, the two-being so made as to-form an annular recess at c. 'Ihrough the center of the bottom E passes the punch F, F, and H. This punch is formedof around central portion, H, which has on each side a wing or flange, F F, that is something less in thickness than 'the diameter of the center H-this thickness correspending to'the thickness of the anvil'intended to be used.

- and its cost is not more 'lho pressing-punch G is then forced 3' into the tube A, and pressure applied. it sufficient to consolidate it very completely with the coilof paper I and the tube. In doing so, the wall of the tube at c is forced out into a recess of the die at that point,

forming; a perfect annular projective base, which is filled on the inside with the paper of the roll 1', The wholebeing, made adhesive by 5;? no, or some suitable material, is consolidated by the pressureinto a strong, solid butt. In theazeantime the punch F has made a recess or opening from the outer surface of the butt into the mass of the paper forming the base of the butt to the depth of half an inch, more or less, to'receive the anvil, and the upper end H of the round portion of the punch F F has kept anv aperture, a, open through the center of the butt. When the butt has been thus completed, the bottom E, with the punches E and F, is withdrawn, and the case is removed from the die I) by being forced downward out of'it. Y

As thus far completed it is represented by Figs. 9 and 1d.

The anvil N, on which to explode the priming, is then to be made and inserted.

This is out by a suitable die and punch from sheet metal, and is shown in Figs. 18 and It). The metal should be thick enough to give I: v euthcient strength to the pro ection j to'bear the blow of the hammer of the gun upon the cap without giving away; This anvil is forced into the recess 0, and, it desired, it may be secured by glue, or some other adhesive substance. A percussion-cap, g, of asuitablesize to lit snugly into the aperture (1, is then inserted over the projection f, and the case is completed.

The projection f being, somewhat thinner than the internal diameterot' the percussioncap, the tire from the exploded cap is readily communicated through the apertured to the gunpowder in the case, while the cap fitting snugly in the outer end of said aperture, prevents the escape of gas when fired in a gun.

The advantages of cartridge eases thus made are obvious. The butt is really much stronger, and less liable to rupture when tired, than the ordinary metallic cartridge-cases, than onethird as much. I

I have now described what I regard as one of the best forms-and methods oi constructing my new cartridge-case; but it is susceptible, of course, of a great variety of modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I do not intend to limit myself to any particular method of constructing,- or arrmigiir; the priming, and do not claim that the method ot'priming described is new-any other method suitable for apaper base may be employed. 'Ihe'anvil, which I doubt, for the-purpose of this specification, regard as any part of the cartridge-case, may be made of any other material than metal; or it may be omitted altogether, and any other mode oi priming adopted. Nor do I'intend to conline myself to the par ticular method here described oi filling in and supporting, the base at thecase. Any other equivalent material and method oi applying: it inay be used. Neither is it essential that the butt should be made with an annular projecting base. Any other form may be. given to the butt externally that may be desired. The annular projecting base, however, :deem the most appropriate for the purpose of conveniently removingthe case from the gun ai'lcr firing.

I am aware that paper tubes for the body ot'cartridge-cases are in common use, and i do not, of course, claim them as my invention. I am also aware that cartridge-cases have been made, or attempted to be made, forbreeehloading tire-arms, wholly of a composition of matter in which paper-pulp entered as an ele ment, the case being made by pressing this composition directly in molds: and I therefore, disclaim the making of eart'rhlge-cases by pressing paper-pulp, or its equivalent, in molds flS-(iOSCIibBti in the forfeited applicationof Z. 0. Warren, iilcd October 20,- 1:505. But I am not aware that the entire ease of a cartridge, designed for a breech-loading tirearm, intended to be removed from the gun after tiring, has ever been attempted to be made entirely of fabricated paper.

I therefore elainras my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A cartridge-case designed for breeelr loading tire-arms, when formed entirely of fabricated paper, and the butt tilled in and strengthened,the whole substantially as herein specified.

2. The die I), with the movable bottom 1-1, the punch F F H, and the pressing-punch (i, when constructed, combined, and arranged substantially as and for thcpurposcs described Witnesses: TIMOTHY .I. ltHYElis.

J. EDWARD BEDELL, J. P. FITCH. 

